Temporary lid for paint cans



Nov. 4, 1952 OPDYKE TEMPORARY LID FOR PAINT CANS Filed Sept. 13, 1950 Gerald L. Opa'y/re IN VEN TOR.

BY @Maai-ih.

WW5 FM and Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in liquid sealing temporary lids and covers and has reference in particular to a readily insertable and removable lid which is especially, though not necessarily, adapted to be used in a paint can to effectively exclude air and to minimize the formation of a filmy skin on the paint surface after the contents of the can have been partly, but not fully, used.

It is a matter of common knowledge that the average person, not a painter, may open a can of paint, attend to a small household painting job and then store the partly filled can away in the cellar, tool shed or elsewhere for future use. Many fail to replace the permanent lid on the can. In fact, some cans are so made, so far as lids are concerned, that if the lid is replaced and becomes stuck, it is almost impossible to remove it. Consequently, it is a recognized habit for certain persons to set a partly filled bucket or can of paint aside wholly uncovered. As a result, a thick scum-like film will eventually form on the unused surface of the paint and will often ruin the unused paint. Of course, all sorts of makeshift covers are employed in that some persons will place newspapers over the otherwise open top of the can or, cloth may be substituted for the paper and used as a temporary cover.

Persons skilled in the art are also aware that others have been confronted with this problem and, as a matter of fact, patents on so-called sealing and temporary lidding devices have been grantd. Since it has a structural bearing on the instant subject matter reference may be had, for example, to a patent to one Danton Doggett, 1,092,902 patented April 14, 1914. The patent discloses" a rigid disk of a slightly less diameter than the interior diameter of the can which is placed afloat atop the liquid paint in the can afterthe original lid has been removed and contents partly used up. This insert for temporary lid provided with a finger ring to facilitate moving same whenever necessary or desired.

The present invention has to do with a simple, economical and practical temporary lid for the samepurposes in which manufacturers, users and others will find their essential needs fully met, contained and successfully available.

More specifically, novelty is predicated on an economical paper disk of a throw-away or disposable type and which is nevertheless sufficient to accomplish the job wanted, that is to exclude the reaction of air on the main surface of the paint column. The paper disk is of a diameter 2 Claims. (Cl. 22093) less than the diameter of the can in which it is placed and has a reinforcing band or annulus around the marginal edge with the latter being a comparatively tough plastic or equivalent tape. The outer peripheral edge of the tape overhangs the corresponding edge of the paper disk and the ends of the tape are left free to coniointly form convenient pull tabs.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of a paint can with the main lid removed and with a portion of the side broken away to show the temporary throw-away lid in use;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the details of construction more plainly, said view being on the line 22 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; and Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the sheet of drawings the paint can is denoted by the numeral 6 and is provided with a handle 8.

The temporary protective lid comprises a disk of throw-away paper H] of a predetermined diameter.

disk is spaced from the wall of the paint can The outer margina1 edge l2 of the paper or bucket. The reinforcing band or tape I4 is superimposed upon the outer marginal portion of the paper disk and has its outer marginal j edge 16 overhanging the edge l2 of the disk. Said edge [5 is also of a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the can, leaving a narrow annular space l8 which is subject to formtabs allow the complete temporary lid to be withdrawn and conveniently thrown away.

The plastic band or tape will not pull free from the paper disk. The two will form a unit and together they provide a temporary protectivetype cover or lid.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufiicient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a pliant paper disk adapted to be laid atop a column of paint in a partly used paint can, said disk being of an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said can, and an annular strip of tape superimposed on and secured to the outer marginal portion only of said disk, said tape having pull tab means integral therewith being of commercial plastic material and appreciably stronger and tougher than said disk, the outer peripheral edge of said tape projecting beyond and overhanging the corresponding edge of said disk.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a pliant paper disk adapted to be laid atop a column of paint in a partly used paint can, said disk being of an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said can, and an annular strip of tape superimposed on and secured to the outer marginal portion of said disk, said tape being of commercial plastic material and appreciably stronger and tougher than said disk, the outer peripheral edge of said tape projecting beyond and overhanging the corresponding edge of said disk, the ends of the tape being separated, free, and collectively serving as pull tabs.

GERALD L, O-PDYKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,167,619 Bainton Aug. 1, 1939 2,190,203 Barnard Feb. 13, 1940 20 2,556,195 Kors June 2, 1951 

